Consumables/printer management system with task and calendar links

ABSTRACT

A method of scheduling an event with respect to a hard copy output engine includes detecting a status of a portion of the hard copy output engine from a sensor incorporated in the hard copy output engine, composing an electronic message including the detected status and transmitting the electronic message to a scheduling engine.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to printers and other hard copy outputengines. More particularly, the invention relates to aconsumables/printer management system with task and calendar links.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] As computer systems and data communications systems havedeveloped, the number and variety of hard copy output engines employedin a typical office or factory setting has grown. Examples include photocopiers, facsimile machines, printers and devices including more thanone of these capabilities. In turn, this has led to a need to be able toorder greater amounts of consumable supplies, some of which are specificto specific types of hard copy output engines.

[0003] As need for these types of hard copy output engines has grown, anumber of different manufacturers have developed different hard copyoutput engines providing different operational characteristics andcapabilities. While some consumable commodities associated with thesedevices are common to most or all such devices (e.g., standardized papersizes), other consumable commodities, such as toners and toner supplycartridges or ink reservoirs, tend to be unique to a specificmanufacturer and may be unique to a specific product line from thatmanufacturer. Additionally, different hard copy output engines may havedifferent paper capacities, capabilities for accepting more or fewerpaper sizes and different toner or other pigment supply requirements andcapacities.

[0004] It is generally helpful to have a mechanism for scheduling andtracking orders of consumable commodities and/or service in keepingcomputer systems functional. For example, it is extremely helpful toensure that adequate supplies of replacement paper and toner or ink areavailable when needed. Additionally, billing for usage of hard copyengines may require costs to be split in various ways, which may bedifficult to keep track of.

[0005] Coordination of orders for supplies can be very helpful to avoidover or under-stocking of these consumable commodities, while stillachieving the benefits of economies of scale by pooling orders toservice multiple hard copy output engines, especially those using atleast some of the same consumable commodities. However, in many businesssettings, the sheer number of diverse hard copy output engines beingused in different aspects or divisions of the business may lead toconfusion in maintaining adequate supplies of these consumablecommodities and in scheduling replacement of consumable commodities aswell as scheduling preventative maintenance.

[0006] What is needed is a way to facilitate scheduling replacement ofconsumable commodities, as well as scheduling preventative maintenance,for one or more hard copy output engines that are included in a network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a methodof scheduling an event with respect to a hard copy output engineincludes detecting a status of a portion of the hard copy output enginefrom a sensor incorporated in the hard copy output engine, composing anelectronic message including the detected status and transmitting theelectronic message to a scheduling engine.

[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, anarticle of manufacture includes a computer usable medium having computerreadable code embodied therein. The computer readable code is configuredto cause a processor to detect a status of a portion of the hard copyoutput engine from a sensor incorporated in the hard copy output engine,compose an electronic message including the detected status and transmitthe electronic message to a scheduling engine.

[0009] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, acomputer implemented control system for a hard copy output engineincludes a sensor coupled to a portion of the hard copy output engine.The sensor is configured to provide a status of the portion of the hardcopy output engine that it is coupled to. The system also includesprocessing circuitry coupled to the sensor. The processing circuitry isconfigured to detect the status of the portion, compose an electronicmessage including the detected status and transmit the electronicmessage to a scheduling engine.

[0010] Other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of thefollowing detailed description, claims and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a computer networkincluding a computer and a hard copy output engine, in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a computer networkincluding multiple hard copy output engines, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a process, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIGS. 4-7 are depictions of exemplary steps in thescheduling/tracking process for tasks or appointments of FIG. 3, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015]FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network 10including a computer 12 having a floppy disc drive 13. The network 10also includes a hard copy output engine 14, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The hard copy output engine 14includes a controller 15, such as a conventional microprocessor ormicrocontroller. The hard copy output engine 14 also includes a memory16 in data communication with the controller 15 and one or more sensors17 coupled to the controller 15. The memory 16 is configured to embodycomputer readable code for configuring the processor 15 to carry outvarious operations and may include an electrically alterable read onlymemory (EAROM), electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), awrite-once, read-many memory (WORM), magnetic, magneto-optic or opticalstorage media, such as conventional disc storage or floppy disc datastorage units, or CD-ROMs or the like, and may include read/write memorysuch as DRAMs or SRAMs.

[0016] The computer 12 is coupled to the hard copy output engine 14 viaa data path such as a bus 20 allowing either the computer 12 or the hardcopy output engine 14 to initiate data communications with the other. Inone embodiment, the hard copy output engine 14 is a device such as aprinter, copier, facsimile machine, or a multifunction device capable ofproviding two or more such functions. In one embodiment, the system 10is coupled to other external devices (not shown in FIG. 1) via the bus20.

[0017] In one embodiment, the bus 20 includes an intranet. In oneembodiment, the bus 20 includes a local area network (LAN) or wide areanetwork (WAN). In one embodiment, the bus 20 includes access to theInternet. In one embodiment, the computer 12 and the hard copy outputengine 14 are capable of exchanging data via a protocol compatible withpresence of other computers 12 or hard copy output engines 14 on the bus20. In one embodiment, the computer 12 and the hard copy output engine14 employ an object-oriented request-reply protocol supportingasynchronous printer query, control and monitor capabilities, and thatis capable of documenting the requests, replies and data types supportedby the protocol.

[0018] In one embodiment, the bus 20 provides common gateway interface(CGI) data communication capability. In one embodiment, the bus 20includes an email capability (e.g., simple mail transfer protocol orSMTP) for facilitating data communication. In one embodiment, the bus 20includes a secure data path using HTTP (hyper text transfer protocol)with SSL (secure sockets layer), as is described in more detail in U.S.Pat. No. 5,657,390, entitled “Secure Socket Layer Application ProgramApparatus And Method”, issued to Elgamal et al. and U.S. Pat. No.6,081,900, entitled “Secure Intranet Access” and issued to Subramanianet al., which patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference fortheir teachings.

[0019] The sensors 17 are coupled to consumable commodities associatedwith the hard copy output engine 14. In one embodiment, when the sensors17 report that a quantity of a consumable commodity (e.g., paper, toneror ink) associated with the hard copy output engine 14 has decreased tobelow a predetermined threshold amount, or that malfunction of adispenser of a consumable commodity exists, the controller 15 initiatesa data communication ultimately intended for transmission via the datapath 20, as is described below in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.Alternatively or additionally, the sensors 17 may log hours of operationand/or loading (such as number of pages handled) in order to determinewhen preventive maintenance is appropriate, or may report othermalfunction of the hard copy output engine 14.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network orsystem 25 including multiple hard copy output engines 14, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The network 25 of FIG. 2includes a link 32, which may include a firewall 34, to other networks36, which may be internal or external. The network 25 also may includeprint clients 40, such as Microsoft 42 and/or Unix 44, as well asothers. The network 25 may further include print spoolers 46, such as NT48, Unix 50 and/or Netware 52, as well as others. The network 25 mayalso include a plurality of hard copy output engines 14, which mayinclude printers as well as facsimile/copier 60 and track console 62.

[0021] The track console 62 normally tracks usage of thefacsimile/copier unit 60 and records data pertinent thereto. Trackconsoles 62 are manufactured by a variety of corporations includingEquitrack of Coral Gables, Fla. and Copytracks. Track consoles typicallyfacilitate data collection for allocation of billings associated withuse of a particular hard copy output engine 14 for the benefit of aspecific client.

[0022] In one embodiment, the print clients 40 and the print spoolers 46are coupled via the bus 20 to other data processing equipment (notshown), where the bus 20 is configured for data communication usingHTTP, although other protocols may be used. In one embodiment, adifferent protocol, such as SNMP, is used, although other protocols maybe used.

[0023] In general, it is desirable to obtain data directly from a hardcopy output engine 14 because this does not require modification of thenetwork software.

[0024] In one embodiment, the link 32 comprises an intranet. In oneembodiment, the link 32 accommodates HTTP for data communication.

[0025] Providing usage and status information relative to the printclients 40, the print spoolers 46 and the individual hard copy outputengines 14 can permit more effective and timely ordering of consumablesand preventative maintenance for hard copy output engines 14.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a process P1, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The process P1begins in a step S1.

[0027] In the step S1, one of the sensors 17 of FIG. 1 detects that anamount of a consumable commodity has fallen below a predetermined level.In one embodiment, a “toner low” or “toner out” condition may bedetected. In one embodiment, the hard copy output engine 14 may havemultiple toner cartridges or other pigment supplies in order to be ableto provide color images. In one embodiment, the sensor 17 may detectthat preventative maintenance needs to be scheduled. In one embodiment,the sensor 17 may determine that the hard copy output engine 14 ismalfunctioning, and that an appointment for a service technician needsto be scheduled.

[0028] In one embodiment, the sensor 17 detects an event chosen from alist including: toner out, toner low, preventative maintenance alerts,including cleaning or replacement of component parts, consumablesorders, internal billing dates for job accounting, external billingdates for job accounting, low or “out of” status for other consumablesor need for other maintenance items.

[0029] In a query task S2, the processor 15 of FIG. 1 determines if thesystem 10 of FIG. 1 or the system 25 of FIG. 2 is configured to assign aperson to the task or appointment that was identified in the step S1.

[0030] In one embodiment, a program such as Microsoft Outlook orMicrosoft Exchange, both available from Microsoft of Redmond,Washington, may be used to schedule tasks and to accept schedule inputsvia email, for example. In one embodiment, an alternative program suchas Lotus Notes, available from Lotus Development Corp. of Cambridge,Mass., may be used to schedule tasks. The operation of the Outlook emailproduct from Microsoft (Redmond, Wash.) is described in U.S. Pat. No.6,125,369 filed on Oct. 27, 1997, entitled “Continuous objectsynchronization between object stores on different computers” and issuedto Charles Wu and George Hu, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,137, filed onOct. 31, 1997, entitled “Method for updating and displaying thehierarchy of a data store” and issued to Alon Brown, Scott Thurlow andSteven Wells, which patents are hereby incorporated herein by referencefor their teachings.

[0031] When the processor 15 determines that the system 10 or 25 isconfigured to assign a person the task or appointment identified in thestep S1, control passes to a step S3. When the processor 15 determinesthat the system 10 or 25 is not configured to assign a person the taskor appointment identified in the step S1, control passes to a step S4.

[0032] In the step S3, the processor 15 either sends an electronicmessage such as an email or causes a printer management system in thesystem 25 to send an electronic message such as an email, the messagecontaining embedded information regarding the task/appointment and thespecific hard copy output engine 14 to a specific person determined fromthe query task S2.

[0033] In the step S4, the processor 15 either sends an electronicmessage such as an email or causes a printer management system in thesystem 25 to send an electronic message such as an email containingembedded information regarding the task/appointment and the specifichard copy output engine 14 to a group list to be assigned or managedmanually.

[0034] In either case, the information included in the communication oremail or in the scheduling/tracking system includes information chosenfrom a list including indicia identifying the hard copy output engine14, percentage complete, to whom assigned, blind carbon copy to, copyto, company addressed to, complete, date completed, defer until, duedate, duration, event address, expiration date, follow-up flag,importance, owner, priority, date message was read, return receiptrequest status, remind beforehand, reminder, reminder override default,required attendee list, resources, sensitivity, date sent, start date,addressee, tracking status, consumables order list (e.g., part numbersand the like), maintenance items or malfunction and preventativemaintenance items. Other information may also be included asappropriate.

[0035] In either case, once the information has been received and isinput into scheduling/tracking software, status of the task/appointmentis updated dynamically in a step S5. In one embodiment, the updating isdirectly analogous to calendaring of acceptance or declination of anappointment or meeting in the scheduling/tracking software.

[0036] In a step S6, status of the scheduled task or appointment may bereviewed. Optionally, users may subscribe to updates, i.e., cause thescheduling/tracking engine to send an electronic message such as anemail apprizing the user of a change of status when the change occurs.Review of status may include, for example, review of task assignment,task acceptance, task completion, percentage complete, date completedand the like. When scheduling conflicts or other difficulties arise, amaintenance manager is able to review the scheduled events and to usethe scheduling/tracking engine to resolve these issues. The process P1then ends.

[0037] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the process P1 iscarried out via the processor 15. In one embodiment, at least a portionof the process P1 is carried out via the computer 12. In one embodiment,at least a portion of the process P1 is carried out via a server orexchange server.

EXAMPLE

[0038] FIGS. 4-7 are depictions of exemplary steps in thescheduling/tracking process for tasks or appointments of FIG. 3, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039]FIG. 4 is an example of a simplified view of a graphical userinterface 70 for showing how a “toner low” task might look in theOutlook scheduling/tracking engine. In this example, what is shown in anactual task that has been delegated from another user and the text hasbeen modified accordingly. Other kinds of tasks (notice to reordertoner, schedule service for printer such as change fuser etc.) also fitwithin this framework.

[0040]FIG. 5 is an example of a simplified view of a graphical userinterface 72 for showing how categories may be assigned to classes oftasks. Related tasks are easily grouped to allow scheduling conflicts tobe identified and resolved. Assignment of tasks to classes alsofacilitate combining or scheduling tasks to promote efficiency.

[0041]FIG. 6 is an example of a simplified view of a graphical userinterface 74 for showing how tasks may be accepted, declined ordelegated. The example of FIG. 6 also illustrates some of the trackingfeatures.

[0042]FIG. 7 is an example of a simplified view of a graphical userinterface 76 for showing how the hard copy output engine 14 or the hardcopy output engine management utility may use the status report feature.Optional “check” boxes 78 and 80 allow selection of reporting featuresfor specific individual tasks.

[0043] The protection sought is not to be limited to the disclosedembodiments, which are given by way of example only, but instead is tobe limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of scheduling an event with respect to ahard copy output engine, comprising: detecting a status of a portion ofthe hard copy output engine from a sensor incorporated in the hard copyoutput engine; composing an electronic message including the detectedstatus; and transmitting the electronic message to a scheduling engine.2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting includes detecting a tonerlow or toner out status.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein detectingincludes detecting a future need for preventative maintenance.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein composing an electronic message includescomposing the electronic message to include information chosen from alist consisting of: percentage of remaining consumable, to whomassigned, blind carbon copy to, copy to, company addressed to, expectedcompletion date, defer until, due date, duration, event address,expiration date, follow-up flag, importance, owner, priority, returnreceipt request status, remind beforehand, reminder, reminder overridedefault, required attendee list, resources, sensitivity, date sent,start date, addressee, tracking status, consumables order list,maintenance items, malfunction and preventative maintenance items. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a status includes detecting astatus from a list of status items consisting of: toner out, toner low,preventative maintenance alerts, including cleaning or replacement ofcomponent parts, consumables orders, internal billing dates for jobaccounting, external billing dates for job accounting, low or “out of”status for other consumables or need for other maintenance items.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the hard copy output engine is chosen from agroup consisting of: facsimile machines, photocopiers and printers. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the electronic message to ascheduling engine comprises transmitting an electronic message includinga consumable order.
 8. An article of manufacture comprising a computerusable medium having computer readable code embodied therein to cause aprocessor to: detect a status of a portion of the hard copy outputengine from a sensor incorporated in the hard copy output engine;compose an electronic message including the detected status; andtransmit the electronic message to a scheduling engine.
 9. The articleof manufacture of claim 8, wherein the computer readable code configuredto cause a processor to detect includes computer readable codeconfigured to cause the processor to detect a toner low or toner outstatus.
 10. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the computerreadable code configured to cause a processor to detect includescomputer readable code configured to cause the processor to detect afuture need for preventative maintenance.
 11. The article of manufactureof claim 8, wherein the computer readable code configured to cause aprocessor to compose an electronic message includes computer readablecode configured to cause the processor to compose the electronic messageto include information chosen from a list consisting of: percentage ofremaining consumable, to whom assigned, blind carbon copy to, copy to,company addressed to, expected completion date, defer until, due date,duration, event address, expiration date, follow-up flag, importance,owner, priority, return receipt request status, remind beforehand,reminder, reminder override default, required attendee list, resources,sensitivity, date sent, start date, addressee, tracking status,consumables order list, maintenance items, malfunction and preventativemaintenance items.
 12. The article of manufacture of claim 8, whereinthe computer readable code configured to cause a processor to detect astatus includes computer readable code configured to cause the processorto detect a status chosen from a list of status items consisting of:toner out, toner low, preventative maintenance alerts, includingcleaning or replacement of component parts, consumables orders, internalbilling dates for job accounting, external billing dates for jobaccounting, low or “out of” status for other consumables or need forother maintenance items.
 13. The article of manufacture of claim 8,wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a processor todetect comprises computer readable code configured to cause theprocessor to detect a status of a hard copy output engine chosen from agroup consisting of: facsimile machines, photocopiers and printers. 14.The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the computer readablecode configured to cause a processor to transmit comprises computerreadable code configured to cause the processor to transmit anelectronic message including a consumable order.
 15. A computerimplemented control system for a hard copy output engine, the systemcomprising: a sensor coupled to a portion of the hard copy outputengine, the sensor being configured to provide a status of the portion;and processing circuitry coupled to the sensor and configured to: detectthe status of the portion; compose an electronic message including thedetected status; and transmit the electronic message to a schedulingengine.
 16. The computer implemented control system of claim 15, whereinthe processor configured to detect includes a processor configured todetect a toner low or toner out status.
 17. The computer implementedcontrol system of claim 15, wherein the processor configured to detectincludes a processor configured to detect a future need for preventativemaintenance.
 18. The computer implemented control system of claim 15,wherein the processor configured to compose an electronic messageincludes a processor configured to compose the electronic message toinclude information chosen from a list consisting of: percentage ofremaining consumable, to whom assigned, blind carbon copy to, copy to,company addressed to, expected completion date, defer until, due date,duration, event address, expiration date, follow-up flag, importance,owner, priority, return receipt request status, remind beforehand,reminder, reminder override default, required attendee list, resources,sensitivity, date sent, start date, addressee, tracking status,consumables order list, maintenance items, malfunction and preventativemaintenance items.
 19. The computer implemented control system of claim15, wherein the processor configured to detect a status includes aprocessor configured to detect a status chosen from a list of statusitems consisting of: toner out, toner low, preventative maintenancealerts, including cleaning or replacement of component parts,consumables orders, internal billing dates for job accounting, externalbilling dates for job accounting, low or “out of” status for otherconsumables or need for other maintenance items.
 20. The computerimplemented control system of claim 15, wherein the processor configuredto detect comprises a processor configured to detect a status of a hardcopy output engine chosen from a group consisting of: facsimilemachines, photocopiers and printers.